US President Donald Trump has said his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, is “a high-quality person” and has applauded “his transparency”.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a brief statement from the president in response to revelations that Mr Trump Jr agreed to hear damaging information on Hillary Clinton as part of the Russian government’s effort to help his father.

“My son is a high quality person and I applaud his transparency,” Mr Trump said in the statement read to reporters by Mrs Huckabee Sanders. She referred all questions about the emails to outside lawyers hired by the president’s son.